In the 18th century, the Beauronne valley was the most important pottery centre of the Périgord with almost 200 potters in small family workshops. This old pottery valley, dating back to the Middle Ages, was situated on the edge of the doubleaude forest where wood, clay and sand abounded and not far from the Bordeaux-Périgueux royal road.
Its potters produced a whole range of rustic peasant pottery covering all the uses of everyday rural life.
« In Beauronne, there is a special and very old industry, that of the manufacture of household utensils. The manufactured products preserve the rough shapes of the early ages of ceramics. They are dishes, plates, jugs and even washing vessels, of massive construction, with thick walls covered on the inside with a green or yellowish lead glaze ». (Louis de Lamothe, Voyages agricoles en Périgord, Annales agricoles et littéraires, tome 42, 1881)
In the valley of the Isle, a few small earthenware factories appeared: that of the lord of Longua in Mussidan around 1750, that of the lord of Mathecoulon in Montpeyroux at the beginning of the 19th century and a last one in the years 1830-1850 in Périgueux.
Illustrations :
– Quote from Louis de Lamothe to be used as an illustration.
– Map of the Beauronne valley, drawn by Pierre de Belleyme between 1768 and 1782.
– Earthenware chatironnée plate with stylised carnation decoration from the Brian factory in Sainte-Foy-la-Grande (1785-1825). 2008.0.830. (© Musée André Voulgre)
– Photograph of an oil tanker in the Beauronne valley, 1st half of the 19th century. (© Musée André Voulgre)
– Sketch of the 19th century poultry feeder. (J.M. Rahier collection)